Continence (Dec 2023)
Dimethyl sulfoxide : A review of pharmacology and clinical effect on interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome
Abstract
Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a refractory chronic cystitis of unknown origin. The intravesical instillation therapy of Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for IC/BPS was approved by the FDA in 1978, and there are reports showing its effectiveness. However, there are still many parts of the mechanism of action of DMSO that remain unclear.DMSO has high membranous permeability, and when instilled into the bladder, DMSO easily penetrates the mucosa and infiltrates the submucosal and muscular layers, and is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it is rapidly metabolized. DMSO does not cause irreversible damage to membranes during penetration and absorption, rather it has a protective effect on cells and organs.The main mechanism of action of DMSO for IC is thought to be its anti-inflammatory effect on Hunner lesions and protection against ischemic tissue damage, mediated by radical scavenging activity of both DMSO and its reduction metabolite, DMS. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated that intravesical instillation of DMSO is effective only for HIC.This review will highlight the known pharmacology and clinical effects of DMSO on the treatment of IC/BPS.
